Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-07-15
ICOmmunicated.l

Mr.. EDITOR We read with much sur
prise the "NOtice TO Teachers in yesteT-
days county papers. We are at a loss to
know how the Superintendent of Schools
acquired the knowledge that so many of
the teachers were sadly in need Of such
instruction as this (Strasburg) Institute
will Afford since Il Is fact that he has
visited on an average about one school in
ten, and SINCE we are quite sure that he Is
not even personally acquainted with two
| fifths OF the teachers in the county. We
appreciate he motives which induced him
10 secure aid from other sources so as to
offer free tuition TO the teachers, but must
offer our most hearty protests when he at
/ tempts to lrighten OF force teachers into
| attending the stTasburg or any other par
tIcular institute. Scarcely an inducement
las been offered the teacher in any Of the
"Notices," except that tuition is free
| That which is free is not always cheapest.
So FAR ~ expense is concerned there are
| three other Normal Institutes in the COM
~ which can be attended for less money
than the Strasburg scnool-the difference
I'm the cost of board more than paying the
cost Of the tuition. What is most surpris-
ing 10 MS. however, is his "bssisfg that
the teachers avail themselves of these ad-
vantages," and ms inability to "be salts
! fed unless all the teachers a his county
attend at least a part Of the term aud
that "this will be taken into considera-
ton in the selection Of teachers for the
public schools" He is either forgetful OF
the right of teachers, to prepare them
selves for teaching, at any place they may
choose. or else has some private end IN
view in thus compelling them to attend at
Strasburg. Az any rate he has assumed a
vcfv great deal Of authority IN thus de
manaing that they shall prepare them
selves in this one town and at this one
particular Institute and significantly add
ing "this will he taken into consideration"
WHY did he not publish his "Notice' few
weeks sooner and also demand that teach
ers should all vote in the interest of GER
! tain candidates The principle Is the
same. and he would have been borne out
by the law a. well in the one case rs the
other. We are quite snre that our worthy
Superintendent must search in vain for
any authority or even precedent for thus
attempting to force teachers to imbibe
knowledge from any particular education
al fountain Just because the tuition Is free
or because the Superintendent twill not
be satisfied &c. In the matter of ex-
pense. there are II pupils to attend school
at CABIN Hill, Taught by the undersgD-
ed). : at st. Pauls, prof Hayes, and ID
at Forestville, prof. J. VI. Zirkle), all Of
whom can board at home and attend a
Normal AT an expense Of $40. At Stras-
burg board alone would cost them s425,
| thus making these % teachers and would
,be teachers pay s2j5 dollars to some folks
in Straslurg for the privilege Of getting
five weeks schooling free. Besides, If we
| have learned 20 parse a certain word cor
rectly can any Superintendent Of Schools
demand that we shall have learned it at
any particular school or town, and can he
lawfully take this into consideration =
The question requires no answer and in
itselfis enough to make a sct man laugh,
while one who Is well would pull down his
cye.lid and ask, ado you SEQ anything
rreen there b" Has the Strasburg Normal
| q patent process for the instilling or inser-
ton Of knowledge Are not principles
the same no matter where We may have
been taught II We come to his cxamina-
tion prepared to prove by our answers to
his questions that we are qualified for
teaching. will be dare give rs a lower
credit marx for a correct answer than he
gives to a s,rasbGFg pupil whose answers
show him 20 be only our equal We defy
linn so TO do. We will attend at Stras-
burg if we choose, or will attend any 9th
| or school If we prefer il, but We will never
he either frightened o. buildozed into
attendance at any particular school
through the silly and arrogant assumption
of authority on the part of any SuperIn-
tcnden. of schools IN the state. We have
heard iust dozen teachers (four Of whom
had intended 10 attend at Strasburg) say
that nothing could now induce them to
attend the school. for The Shenandoah
county teacher., whatever else may be
said of them. ase not willing to consider
themselves the subject, % any Tyraut OF
Dictator. and have too much good serse tn
believe thatthey can he forced into any
such course. In q W ord, 90 use the Ian
rnage Of pedagogue Of Woodstock WHO
il muck interested in "the qnestion')
"they viii do nothing on compulslon."
Some very few fellows were badly scared
| after reading the "Notice." One OF them
informed the writer that although he pre-
ferred 70 attend another school, yet 1t
W onld work him hard 10 Ego through
anyway, and that "a he understood the
notice 10 mean "Strasburg and certifi-
Gates or " 70 Sifasburg 10 certificates
be will arrive ~ Strasburg on the llth
inst. confidently expecting to como away
will, a license 10 WELD the birch rod and
receive the maledctiOns Of some Of the
iratc patrons Of his school. There were
sill greater number Of teachers who. on
reading the "Notice,' laid the paper by
and, holding their sides, INDUCED IN a
long and serious ft Of what is sometimes
termed horse laugh. Weneyer did think
this was polite, so we, with the rest lby
far the smaller number. with our ker-
chiefs modestly crammed in our mouths
paye vent t. snbdued little "snicker,
and declared we we're not afraid OF
whole pare of sncn Notices" and would
fiji our "cranium-' 70 overlooking from
anv storehouse Of knowledge We chose
and would never fear our inability 70 OBJ
tain full credit for every correct answer
we might give to any question IN any o.
his examinations well knowing that there
is limit to the authority Of even a Super
intendent of school, and that limit i
reached long time before he gets to the
point of compelling teachers to attend
free tuition Normal Institute.
CHAs. s. STANTON.
----------~-% -
Of for the Seashore.